EFP demands Federal intervention in restoration of Gas supply to Balochistan.

KARACHI -- Ismail Suttar, President of Employers' Federation of Pakistan (EFP), has resentfully concluded that the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) is either incompetent or under pressure from unknown players despite the consistent pushing by stakeholders for days over record low-pressure ahead of winters.

In the past, due to negligence, nepotism and deep-rooted corruption, Pakistanis have never been able to benefit from the treasure of 217 million tons of coal and mineral reserves of the province. As a result, the GDP contribution of Balochistan has remained subpar at 6 percent. Another reason is the inequitable distribution of resources and one of these is supply of gas. The boilers are not receiving desired pressure that has significantly impacted production, on which millions of white-collar jobs and billions in export revenue depend.

Ismail recalled that earlier the SSGC had inadvertently cut supply of gas for industries in Hub without prior notification and today there is an issue of low pressure or no gas at all. In August 2020, alone, there was a gas shortage of 410 hours. Whereas, in September, so far the number...